First timer help!!!

[Disneynut71]

I will be taking my first trip to Disneyland May 30th - June 8th. I will not be getting a dining plan or plan on eatting on-site everyday.

Besides DTD what else is around that I can get to easy for eatting? I am trying to keep expenses low since I spent most of my budget on airfare and car rental (not including gas).

Also, I would like to see the beach. What is a nice kid friendly one we can go to. I have a 5 yr old girl and a 11 yr old boy.


Thank you

 

[ironpig70]

just outside the park on harbour blvd where the majority of the good neighbor hotels are there is alot of food choices.


try this http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1803058

it's called google earth and will give the names of anything around the park and even help map out a way to the beaches. me personally i'd go to santa monica pier.

 

[davidsprincess]

We liked a place called Millie's. The food was great and the prices were reasonable. It is across the street and there is also a McDonald's right next to it.

 

[pixiewings71]

Millie's, Mimi's, McDonald's, IHOP, Denny's are all across the street. There is also a Captain Kidd's but it's not that great.

 

[Janomi]

Since you stated that you have a vehicle, there are many places to eat within the vicinity of DLR. As stated earlier by previous posters, you will find many restaurants choices along Harbor Blvd within a mile or two (depending on what you like to eat).

A little further out is The Block, a shopping/eating/movie place if you were planning on taking time out of DL.

Nearest beaches are Newport and Huntington Beach. A little further down is Corona Del Mar Beach (one of my favorites). It is secluded and way smaller than Newport or HB.

 

[bumbershoot]

I liked Coco's, too.

There's the new Garden Walk, which has Cheesecake Factory and Bubba Gump's, and PF Chang's, I believe.

Most people say to stay FAR away from Captain Kidd's. Cheap and easily accessible, but I've heard near horror stories from trusted people on disney fan forums (not here, so much, people rarely mention it at all here).

Coco's and Mimi's are my faves (though they are also the only offsite restaurants I've been to, lol).

I've read that the IHOP near the parks is actually quite expensive, FYI. More expensive than the normal IHOP. Just what I've heard.

There's a Quizno's on the Carousel's grounds and a Cold Stone Creamery going in at, hmm, Park Vue, I believe. (not that Cold Stone is budget...or good IMO for that matter, but it's worth knowing)

 

[tortugaverde]

We ate several meals at IHOP. It is right across the street from the entrance and kids eat FREE They had great service as well

 

[Disneynut71]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Eventhough I will be renting a car, I am a bit afraid of driving around much since I will not know my way around. I am going to bring my GPS with so it should help a bit.

I will make sure to stay away from captain Kidds.

This trip still doesn't feel real. I have been to WDW so many times and know my way around Orlando but just feel like I am going to a whole new world going to DLR.

Any other ideas please let me know.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you seen this map? http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

I like it, it can sort of give you a feel of where things are around the resort.

Have you read HydroGuy's tips for WDW people? it's in a sticky thread on the forum.

There are also two grocery stores nearby, Von's and Albertson's, that also deliver.

You can bring reasonable food and drink into the park, by the way. No glass (except baby food, I hear), though. You can get cups of ice water anywhere, and there are fountains where you can refill a water bottle.

If you do eat onsite, you can share (Blue Bayou does charge a split plate fee), and adults can order the kid's meals if you have a smaller appetite. The bean and cheese burrito meal at Rancho del zocalo and the penne pasta meal at Plaza Inn (I did have a side salad with that one) were perfectly size and much less expensive than an adult meal.

 

[Disneynut71]

Have you seen this map? http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

I like it, it can sort of give you a feel of where things are around the resort.

Thank you for the map. I was just what I needed.

Question: I will be staying at the Disneyland Hotel. How difficult will it be to get to the other side of the resort where Mimi's and Mcdonalds are?

Is there a road that splits the two parks I can walk through?

Thank you again for all your help.

 

[Gisele]

If you have a mini fridge in your room, you can go to one of the local grocery stores and stock up on what you and your children prefer to eat. If you also have a microwave oven, then you can perpare even more meals.
There are a number of pizza places in the area that delivear, or pick it up,so if you like pizza, that is another inexpensive menu item.
You can make very nice picnics and eat at the park, or at your pool or anywhere else that you might like, at the resort.

 

[BillyFan]

You can walk straight through DTD and the Esplanade between the two parks, and then out to Harbor and on to those to places, but it seems like an awfully long walk to save very little money, IMO. I do really like Mimi's, but I don't know if I would take that treck when I could be enjoying Disney!
Consider sharing or eating some kid's meals, like bumbershoot said. We do this some times, and it saves us quite a bit. There are also counter service places in DTD, and White Water Snacks in the Grand, which is very reasonable.

 

[Avery's mom]

Thank you for the map. I was just what I needed.

Question: I will be staying at the Disneyland Hotel. How difficult will it be to get to the other side of the resort where Mimi's and Mcdonalds are?

Is there a road that splits the two parks I can walk through?

Thank you again for all your help.

It is not too terribly far to the restaurants on Harbor. You walk straight through Downtown Disney, past security, through the entrance plaza and out to Harbor. Millie's, Mimi's and McDonalds's are to your left and IHOP and others (including GardenWalk) are to your right. It is a bit far to walk with the ages of your kids, but if you come from the park instead say, for a lunch break or dinner break, the walk will be much, much shorter.

 

[IASWAM]

We've eaten at Tony Romas on Harbour Blvd. Foods pretty good as well as the service. It's just across the street, and to the right.

 

[pixiewings71]

There are also a few steakhouses on Harbor...1 or 2 iirc but I can't remember the names....one was something about Ruth's Chris Steakhouse or something like that.

I don't know if the Cold Stone will be open yet but it is going in across the street....I love CS.....the BEST ice cream. mmmmmmmm

 

[Disneynut71]

Thanks again for all the tips.

One more question.

If we do eat in the parks, what is a must not miss?

 

[SmoothDisneyH2O]

You have to eat at this small place in DCA its GREAT! Its kind of hidden and the prices are not bad. I know its one of the locals favorites. Im trying to remember the name....hmmmm....what is it called?....Oh yeah.....I remember....You have to eat at McDonalds. Its the BEST!

 

[hlbtimes2]

This thread is kind of making me giggle- she is wanting to eat out of the park to save money and people are sending her to cheesecake factory, Ruths Chris, and PF changs- holy cow those places are all MORE expensive then eating in the park.

Personally, we dont find leaving the park a good way to save money. Yes, you might save $1-2 per person but the time spend leaving is just not worth it. Instead of leaving we share meals. My 9 year old has good taste in food and doesnt like kids meals. Most of the meals are large enough for her and I to share, or sometimes her and the 6 year old share. We order an salad or dessert to top of the meal. Or we find less expensive options like soup in a bread bowl or corndog- both are about $6-7 per person. We also don't eat 3 full meals a day. That would be way more food then we consume at home. We have a light breakfast at the hotel- muffin/bagel, fruit, yogurt/cheese. Then we have two meals at the park. Usually one smaller one like the soup or corndog, and one larger meal.

IMO, it's snacks and drinks that kill the budget. A drink is $2.75/$3.00 which is crazy! Bringing those is where you'll have the most money.

 

[hlbtimes2]

If we do eat in the parks, what is a must not miss?

For our family it is: The corndogs from the red wagon on main street, clam chowder in a bread bowl from the royal street veranda, Red Rockets pizza port in tomorrowland, White Water snacks at the GCH (ok, that one is leaving the park, but if you are at DCA its close).

 

[Disneynut71]

You have to eat at this small place in DCA its GREAT! Its kind of hidden and the prices are not bad. I know its one of the locals favorites. Im trying to remember the name....hmmmm....what is it called?....Oh yeah.....I remember....You have to eat at McDonalds. Its the BEST!

Knowing my kiddies, they will want to eat there everyday.